Culture

Malian musicians call for measures to face the coronavirus crisis

Bamako (Mali), Jul 29 (EFE / EPA), (Camera: Annie Risemberg).- The music industry in Mali has been hit by the COVID-19 crisis since hundreds of concerts across the country have been cancelled.The situation is especially serious in the country since, for most musicians, live performances are essential for their livelihood. FOOTAGE OF MUSICIANS AND STREETS OF BAMAKO. SOUNDBITES OF:-AISHA DIARRA, SASHA LA SLAMEUSE", BAMAKO-BASED SLAM POET:"It has not been easy because there are no concerts. If you ban the meetings there are no activities or invitations. Economically it is very difficult, especially because many festivals that have been cancelled. All this is very demotivating, but we still have confidence.""What has touched me the most is the fact that the government hasn't accompanied us. We have seen that many measures have been taken, but for the artists. It is as if they have forgotten us."-NATHANAEL DEMBÉLÉ, FORMER DRUMMER FOR SONGHOY BLUES AND CURRENT MEMBER OF COLLEKTIF TERIYA:"The artists in Mali live day by day. You play tonight, you earn a little money and tomorrow that will allow you to feed. All of a sudden, this whole system has been stopped by government decisions. It's ok, but the government does not support the artists. Culture is one of the sectors in Mali that, until now, has not been helped."-BADY AGALY, RHYTHM GUITARIST FOR BAMAKO-BASED TAMASHEK GROUP ARATAN N'AKAL:"It’s been four months where we haven’t had any work. We don’t even practice anymore. Each person stays in his corner. Now it’s almost Tabaski (Eid al-Adha). And we can’t do anything, we can’t work… There are no concerts, no festivals, no weddings. We make our living with those things. That’s how we get by.""Right now we are counting on the government who had promised to help us or give us some funds. Until now, they’ve given us nothing. They’ve done nothing for us. So we’re waiting on them, we don’t know if they’re doing to help us. That’s all I can say."